AFC title matchup: Ravens vs. Patriots

There has been an element of clutch to this season. Nine of the Ravens' 18 games have been decided by three points or fewer, and they've won six of them, including a 38-35 double-overtime win over the Broncos last week. Regular-season momentum is proving overrated for this team. Entering the playoffs, it had none, dropping four of five games. Baltimore is 6-0 when its quarterback totals 300 or more passing yards, the best mark in the NFL.

How the Patriots got here

New England began its season with two losses in three games. It's won 12 of 14 since, including four straight entering today. New England carries an average margin of victory of 19.75 points, best in the league, and under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the Patriots have been methodical. They led the NFL in 10-play drives (41), third-down conversion rate (48.7) and points (499), among other categories. Their 444 first downs easily paced the league.

Ravens' plan of attack

The Ravens will try to test the Patriots secondary deep. It allowed 74 completions of 20-plus yards in the regular season and 15 touchdowns from that range, both worst in the NFL. Joe Flacco can fling it, hitting Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones for scores of 59 and 70 yards, respectively, last week. Their speed poses a challenge for ex-Charger Steve Gregory and Co.

Patriots' plan of attack

Run the Ravens ragged. Baltimore has played an extreme number of defensive snaps in its first two games, on the field for 94 in each contest. By comparison, the unit averaged 72 snaps in the regular season. New England pushes the tempo better than anyone in the NFL. It ran about 200 more offensive snaps this season than it in 2010.

Three Ravens to watch

Torrey Smith: The wide receiver gave one of the more emotional performances in sports the last time he faced the Patriots, playing a day after his younger brother died in a motorcycle accident. He caught 10 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns in a Sept. 23 win.

Joe Flacco: Flacco is the first quarterback in NFL history to win a playoff game in each of the first five years of his career. He owns a 120.0 rating this postseason, completing 30 of 57 passes for 613 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions.

Ray Lewis: The 37-year-old linebacker's retirement plans were put on hold another week with the upset win over the Broncos. His 17 tackles pushed his postseason total to 30, tied for the most in the two-game playoff span since 1991.

Three Patriots to watch

Aaron Hernandez: No Rob Gronkowski (arm) could be no problem. Hernandez has proven capable of handling extra targets, something he did last week. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound tight end caught six of nine passes for 85 yards against the Texans.

Tom Brady – Of the four starting quarterbacks still eying a Super Bowl berth, Brady is the only one who's been there before. He has won five of six AFC Conference Championship Games in his career, including all three played at home.